Second child guilt

Smalley has a birthday party coming up. I’m going to completely gloss over the fact that he’s turning 4 as I’m neither emotionally nor mentally capable of processing such. The reality that this coming birthday marks not only such a departure from the time my baby was a baby but also firmly establishes him as being beyond even the most generous definitions of toddler hood is simply too much. <sob>

So, as I say glossing over the sadness that time flies, I’m dwelling instead on parent guilt. 

I think back to when Albs was smaller. To the hours I committed to looking up activities and prepping party games. Birthdays were planned months in advance; venues booked and invitation a hand made and delivered at least 6 weeks before the date in hope of securing a good enough crowd to make the effort worthwhile! 

And then the second child finds himself with another birthday looming and the second child guilt starts creeping in.

With just over 3 weeks to go - and minimal research a hall has been booked and a bouncy castle hired. We’ve clobbered together a guest list and have fingers crossed 4 year old social lives have eased up a bit since Albs was that small; his life booked up months in advance!

The ultimate mum guilt came by way of the invitations. I did handmade invites for all but Albs’ most recent party - when my feminist ways opted instead for shiny pink invites. Making a sleep deprived decision that my love is best shown through my cutting and pasting skills, How to train your dragon stickers were hastily purchased, the craft box raided, the home printer pulled off the shelf and 24 hours later the Toothless invites were handed out at school.  

Sticking together invitations until 1am has proven efficient in staving on the mum guilt for now. With the party weeks away and a full schedule between now and then, I anticipate it creeping back in a great deal more over the coming weeks..